"We've made all the necessary changes on our lease agreement reflecting that, as well as our application asking if the applicants smoke. And then, of course, we have it noted there as part of our policy now that we're non-smoking."

She admitted it will take some time forall 4,000-plus suites in Globe's buildings to become smoke-free, since existing tenants can still smoke.

Reaction from tenantsmostly positive

The agency has received complaints from some tenants, but the majority applauded the move to ban smoking, Glover noted.

But Globe tenant Pat Rockwell said Monday he is upset with his landlord's new policy.

"It's an invasion of privacy. I mean, what I do in my apartment is my concern," Rockwell said.

Glover said the company has discussed the issue with the Manitoba Human Rights Commission and the province's Residential Tenancies Branch. As well, she stressed that existing tenants like Rockwell can still light up in their suites if they want to.

"We're honouring the tenants in the past that smoke, and we're letting them smoke up until the end of their tenancy with us," she said.

The Residential Tenancies Branch did not comment on Globe's policy on Monday. Roger Barsy, the branch's director of consumer and corporate affairs, said his agency may have to rule on the matter if a tenant files a complaint.

Barsy said he was not surprised a landlord would consider a smoking ban in apartments.

"I'm surprised that it hasn't come up before this time," he said. "So I wouldn't be surprised that other landlords would adopt this policy."